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Mike Trout, Bryce Harper: MLB Rookies Of The Year

Outfielders Mike Trout and Bryce Harper have won 2012 rookie of the year honors in their respective leagues.

Trout, 21, the youngest player to ever become AL rookie of the year, was the unanimous choice of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim star’s 2012 stats included a .326 batting average (second behind triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera) with 30 home runs and 83 RBI. Trout, only the 18th player in MLB history to win the award unanimously, also made four fantastic, home run-robbing catches in center field.

“Only three other players — guys named Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle — have notched a Wins Above Replacement (WAR) higher than Trout’s 10.7 at age 25 or younger. And no player — any age, any tenure — has ever combined at least 45 steals with 125 runs and 30 homers in one season, not to mention a .320-plus batting average.”

Harper, who turned 20 about a month ago, received 16 of 32 first-place votes for NL rookie honors from the BWAA. Harper finished the season batting .270 with 22 home runs (the second most by a teenager at the MLB level) and 59 RBI. The Washington Nationals star is the youngest position player in the National League to win the award.

The Most Valuable Player award for each league will be announced Thursday. In the American League, it will come down to either Trout or Cabrera.

Both players have come a long way in a short time as ESPN notes: “At this time last year, Trout and Harper were teammates on the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League. The pair were among a record five rookie All-Stars.”

Upon learning of his rookie of the year achievement, Trout tweeted the following:

Wow! What an incredible feeling and honor! Extremely humbled. Thank you #Angels organization and teammates! And fans!!